To give Hotel Chocolate as a present

The other brands are the luxury brands. HC fills the gap between everyday brands (i.e. those you listed) and luxury brands (those the PP listed).

Those wondering about the change in taste. This may have something to do with it: Mars acquired Hotel Chocolat in 2024, and no doubt has made some “streamlining” decisions.

I love hotel chocolat and was delighted when someone bought me a box as a gift a couple of years ago. Two of their delivery staff rescued toddler DD and me when we were lost in Grantham at 1am having been diverted off the motorway due to a bad accident. Sat nav didn’t know the road was closed. Van driver recognised us from traffic jam, stopped alongside us while I was map reading and told me to follow them through country roads back to the motorway.

What the hello are these brands you're talking about? Surely the everyday brands are Cadbury or Galaxy? Maybe Lindor if im feeling posh 😆

Depends on if you are trying to impress with a brand or please with something nice. For someone you know who isn't a brand snob or conscious about costs of gifts they are a good option. Some people would be embarassed by you spending £18 on a box of chocolates but would be happy with £7 and still think it a luxury.

I can't get excited by brands too much as long as the gift is appropriate.

I personally prefer some basic Cadburys type chocolate. Lindt if feeling posh. But Hotel Chocolate is a nice gift if you feel like giving something more present-y than a flake.

I dug up the quote as I was perplexed to see this issue raised here in such a manner as “uzbek wine…hotel chocolate [carriage return] chocolates… nasty lynx box sets”. So I had presumed that meant ‘freebies’ from a stay in a hotel, mints on the pillow type thing. Hôtel Chocolat (no last ‘e’ is hardly close to being in the same category as the other two examples proffered. Pretentious nonsense.

Well I'm confused. I thought hotel chocolate was for financially well off people as it's so expensive. I received a box from a parent last summer (I'm a teacher) and I was taken a back by her generosity. Personally I'm delighted with a bar of dairy milk.

I don't really like it so might regift, but I'd appreciate your kindness. I'm not snobby about chocolate but for some reason it's not for me.

Personally, and I think for an awful lot of people, it IS a premier chocolate, even if by price alone! I hadn't realised that many MNetters have an issue with it!

I don't think it's worth the money since mars took it over, I used to really like it but it's all samey, but too sweet and waxy now. Their hot chocolate is still good

This 😁
I love Hotel Chocolat. I'd definitely be pleased receiving some as a present!
MN is like some kind of weird parallel universe, I'd take no notice of random internet chocolate hating weirdos 😁

Hotel Chocolat is lovely, the thread you're referring to is for greedy, ungrateful and snobby weirdos ignore them lol

I think HC is fine for a gift, I would be happy with it, and I’ve bought it for others too. It’s not my preferred brand, and sometimes the flavours aren’t quite right e.g. spices like cinnamon can be raw and overpowering, but I’d be grateful, I’d recognise the thought/effort, and, importantly, I’d scoff the lot. What else is there that’s mid range and accessible nowadays - Thorntons shops have pretty much gone from the high street, and quality not so good since it was bought by Ferrero. Cadbury’s quality gets worse every year. Lindor can be a bit cloying. I like Guylian pralines, but not everyone can eat nuts. I don’t think Tony’s do selection boxes, do they? For a box of chocs bought in person, it’s your local independent chocolatier, supermarket brands, or HC. Having said that, when I have time I usually get my friends and family chocolates online from Amelie Chocolat

Love the packaging, can't stand the taste. It's mutton dressed as lamb imo.

Apart from a few of their offerings that aren't my cup of tea, I like HC. I like Godiva slightly more but I'm always happy to receive HC, especially filled / flavoured ones and sachets for my velvetiser. I think there may be a slight decline in flavour but I still find them nice to eat. My dad loved their marzipan chocolates, too. He had a select group of brands of marzipan chocolate he enjoyed and HC was one of them.

I also bought two small (and not cheap) HC boxes today as gifts for relatives and I'm pretty sure they'll be happy to receive them. I only have one friend, I think, that outright doesn't like their chocolate. I therefore don't buy it for her.

I had no idea it was considered naff, not read that anywhere. I'm sure it will be fine to give to people. Don't worry about it.

I used to love it but treated myself to some last year and it tasted awful 😫

I think if you are not sure what people like, it is a good choice.

Take from a recipient, it really isn't. It does not have that all-round appeal which some people who gift it seem to think it has. What it is, is a very easy choice that indicates money was spent, but as to whether much thought went into it is up for debate.

I'm always happy to get hc. Interestingly I once donated some to a raffle and it outshone the other prizes.

I don’t think it’s ‘junk’ but I took the OP to mean think it’s just one of those generic gifts that isn’t always thoughtful as such.

I think if you are not sure what people like, it is a good choice.

The reason I say that is, as other pp have said, it sits on a mid rung. The thing with chocolate is it isn't like holidays or houses in that most people would prefer the most expensive: some people actively prefer the taste of "supermarket" brands like Cadburys, and plenty of people actually would really not enjoy the other end of the market.

Hotel Chocolat I would say is possibly disappointing but still edible for those on either end of the spectrum. Cadbury's would be insulting for some, and others wouldn't be able to spit out a mouthful of 81% To'ak fast enough.

I think it didn;t help its image when it began to be stocked in supermarkets: you can buy it on Ocado.

I’m not a fan of it , and don’t know many who like it

about as good as dairymilk, but smaller portions and a much higher price. I love chocolate, and happily consume both supermarket and high end brands , but I would never buy hotel chocolate as the quality and price point just don’t match for me.

i would happily receive it as a gift, but the brand is better at packaging and presentation than it is bout product.